"We don't know the cause of death," Sgt. Trent Crump, a Phoenix police spokesman, said Sunday. "We categorize this as a death unknown. The cause could be medical."

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Republic Editor Randy Lovely said he was "terribly saddened" by Creno's death.

"He was a talented journalist, but more importantly, a great person," Lovely said. "As a reporter, he was able to step into any situation and deliver a great story."

Creno covered a range of topics, which speaks to his great breadth of skills, Lovely said. "He was a true pleasure to work with, and he will be missed."

As a general-assignment reporter, Creno's versatility was an asset. He could convey the big news of the day as well as life's everyday moments.

He interviewed people from all walks of life, from winter-weary travelers to euphoric football fans to families whose homes had been destroyed by Arizona forest fires to followers of self-help guru James Arthur Ray. He was a good listener and had a natural curiosity, exuding Midwestern charm with his low-key, approachable style.

Creno loved to tell stories. He also loved food - Lenny's cheeseburgers and Dolly Madison fruit pies were among his favorites - TV and traveling. He worked out at a gym nearly every day.

He started his career in Phoenix in 1981 as a reporter for The Phoenix Gazette. When the papers merged in 1995, he joined The Republic, covering retail and real estate.

Republic business editor Kathy Tulumello said Creno was wonderful to work with because he was easygoing and had a positive outlook.

"He was an extremely competent reporter and covered a number of important stories not only in retail and real estate, but I knew him first as a crime reporter in his early years at The Phoenix Gazette," she said.

Creno spent many years writing for the Business section, where he covered the highs and lows of Arizona's real-estate cycle.

Those who often found themselves subjects of Creno's writing praised the reporter for his accuracy, curiosity and talent.

"He was genuinely interested in what he was writing. To Glen, it wasn't just a job," said Denise Resnik, president of Denise Resnik & Associates, a local public-relations firm. "He looked for the good in people and in life."

Brett Barry, an associate broker with HomeSmart in Phoenix, said he never worked with a finer reporter.

"He was an extremely curious person, as a reporter should be," Barry said. "When you talked with Glen, there were always about 10 'whys.' He really covered real estate in a skeptical way."

Pat Flannery, a Republic editor who had known Creno since his Gazette days, said, "He was a terrific reporter. News was his lifeblood. . . . He had sources all over the place. He knew everyone in town. He had a gentle manner and was a friendly guy."

Dawn Gilbertson, another Republic reporter, said Creno was one of her favorite writers with whom to share a byline. She said his writing was smooth, jargon-free and lively. For example, in 2005, when a merger was announced between America West Airlines and US Airways, Creno called it the "worst-kept secret since Prince Charles and Camilla."

"He would bring the magic that would bring it home to everybody," Gilbertson said.

When Cathryn Creno, his former wife, returned home Saturday from a day visiting a cousin in California, she found the house in disarray, but Phoenix police said there were no signs of forced entry and no evidence of a suspect. Glen Creno had no obvious injuries that would cause death, Crump said.

Cathryn, who had caught a 7:30 p.m. Saturday flight home, said Sunday, "I was bothered I hadn't been able to reach him before I got to Phoenix."

When she arrived home, she was surprised to find the house dark. She found Glen's body in the backyard. He had a history of epileptic seizures, apparently caused by college-football injuries.

Glen Creno was born March 7, 1951, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Ernest and Lillian Creno, who are deceased. He is survived by a younger brother, Grant Creno of Peoria.

Glen graduated from the University of Dubuque in Iowa, which he attended on a football scholarship. He moved to Arizona in the late 1970s and took journalism classes at Arizona State University.

He began work at The Gazette in January 1981, the same month Cathryn started work at the Republic. The Crenos were married 17 years. They divorced in 2005 and lived apart 18 months before he returned home.

"The divorce didn't really stick," Cathryn said. "We were united in our love of dogs and travel."